New season of ‘Seoul Mate’ is back with Key and Hong Soo-hyu

By Yim Hyun-su

Celebs to host guests from around the world on the second season of the travel-themed show

“Seoul Mate” is back. The TV show begins a new season with a star-studded cast, including singer Key and actress Hong Soo-hyun.

The revamped tvN show will air at 8:10 p.m. every Monday, giving viewers a rare chance to see celebrities act as hosts and share their homes with guests from different cultures.

Key, who has yet to begin filming the show and who has never shown his house on TV before, sounded excited during a press conference on Thursday.

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“When my roommates come and visit me, I want to show them Korean culture in its truest form and that’s why I wanted to join the show,” the singer said before adding that Germany was the place he would most love to visit someday.

The trilingual star -- who speaks Korean, English and Japanese -- has garnered praise from fellow cast member Kim Jun-ho over his linguistic abilities.

In a trailer unveiled during the press conference, Hong said people around her had suggested that she take part in the show because she sounded confident that she would get along with guests of all ages.

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In the first clip, Hong looked upbeat as she showed visiting American actresses around Seoul, spoiling them with makeovers.

Hong also said, “Jang Seo-hee appeared on the first season of ‘Seoul Mate’ and she told me though it was tough at times, it was mostly fun and she had a good time. It was thanks to her recommendation that I decided to join.”

She said she was able to bond with her guests because they shared an acting background. Her imperfect English was not an issue, Hong said.

(tvN)

While Key and Hong are the new hosts, viewers will see comedian Kim Jun-ho and Kim Sook travel abroad to meet the people they hosted in the previous season.

The second season comes just a few months after the first season ended, in August on the cable channel Olive.